Catalan Moto GP: what to expect at the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona this weekend

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Reigning champion and 2018 leader Marc Marquez leads Valentino Rossi last time out at Mugello. The Honda rider later crashed, allowing Rossi and his main rivals to close on his points tallyCredit:
Mirco Lazzar/Getty Images Europe

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This week sees MotoGP continue its hectic European schedule with the series visiting Spain for the second of this season's four visits, for the Catalunyan Grand Prix.

Not surprisingly, given the enthusiasm for two-wheeled sport in Spain and the proliferation of indigenous riders across the three classes, Catalunya has always been a happy hunting ground for Spanish riders. We have to go back as far as 2002 for the last time a Spanish rider failed to win any of the three classes.

In the MotoGP class there has been at least one Spanish rider on the podium for the last 11 years, with the last Spanish victory claimed by Jorge Lorenzo in 2015. Lorenzo goes to Catalunya on the back of his first win for Ducati at the last round in Italy.

Ahead of that race, the speculation was that Lorenzo had two races to convince the Italian factory to renew his contract for 2019 - but that speculation has been ended with the news that Lorenzo has decided to leave Ducati and move to the factory Honda team alongside Marc Marquez after the impending departure of Dani Pedrosa at the end of the season.

Lorenzo’s future may be sorted but Pedrosa is yet to announce where his future lies; an announcement is expected ahead of this weekend's racing. Lorenzo rode a dominant race in Italy, very much reminiscent of when he dominated on the Yamaha, where he often led races from flag to flag.

Rossi (right) finished third at Mugello but moved into second in the series. The race was a one-two for Ducati, with under-pressure Jorge Lorenzo (centre) taking the win, with his team-mate Andrea Dovizioso in secondCredit:
Gaetano Piazzolla/Action Plus

With championship leader Marc Marquez crashing and ultimately finishing outside of the points in Italy, it was an opportunity for his rivals to close the gap to the defending champion. Ahead of Mugello, Marquez had a 36-point advantage to his nearest rival, Maverick Vinales. His lead is now 23 points - and it is Vinales’ team-mate Valentino Rossi who now sits second in the championship.

Rossi delighted his adoring home fans by claiming pole position at Mugello, but after a tough race had to settle for third behind the Ducati pairing of Andrea Dovizioso and Lorenzo,although the Italian fans were somewhat appeased by the Ducati one-two and their hero’s third place in the race.

Last year it was Dovizioso who was victorious at Catalunya and after the better showing in Italy, which was his first finish in three races and his first podium since he won the opening round in Qatar, he will be hoping for more of the same if he is to mount a challenge for the 2018 title.

He is currently 29 points adrift of Marquez, he will though take heart from the fact that the Honda rider has not won at Catalunya since 2014. Lorenzo who will be buoyed by the victory in Italy, and if that form can be repeated he will be in serious contention for the win.

The former MotoGP champion has an exceptional record at the circuit, winning there four times between 2010 and 2015. Behind Marquez the championship is close, with only 12 points separating Rossi in second and Andrea Iannone in seventh.

2018 MotoGP championship standings

1. Marc Marquez (Honda) 95 points

2. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 72

3. Maverick Viñales (Yamaha) 67

4. Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) 66

5. Johann Zarco (Yamaha) 64

6. Danilo Petrucci (Ducati) 63

Moto2

Francesco Bagnaia continues to lead the championship but, as the Italian could only manage fourth in Italy, young Portugeuse rider Miguel Oliveira’s win means the gap to second is reduced to 13 points.

It was Oliveira's first victory of the season. He has now finished in the podium places in four from the seven races to date; the same as Bagnaia, who has won three races. Oliveira is one of only three KTM-framed machines in the top ten; the remaining seven places are all taken by Kalex-framed bikes.

Last year's Moto3 champion Joan Mir continues to impress in the class after taking his second successive third place in Italy. It has been confirmed that for 2019 Mir will ride a Suzuki in the premier MotoGP class.

2018 Moto2 championship standings

1. Francesco Bagnaia 111 points

2. Miguel Oliveira 98

3. Lorenzo Baldassarri 84

4. Alex Marquez 78

5. Joan Mir 64

6. Xavier Vierge 59

Moto3

This is currently the closest championship of the Grand Prix classes, with only eight points separating the top three. Jorge Martin's win in Italy closed the gap to series leader Marco Bezzecchi, who finished in second place, to just three points.

Third place was taken by Fabio Di Giannantonio, who currently lies third. There is then a 14-point gap to Aron Canet in fourth.

The Moto3 class has raced six times at Catalunya, each time yielding a different winner, a trend that is set to continue since all of those six winners have moved on from the class. In recent years Honda riders have had the upper hand, winning the last four races.